How to (if you can at all) improve performance on a single core CPU

DoYouWantAJellybaby · Nov 9, 2013

Hi, my PC is under no circumstances the best, but it might run some 2011-2012 games quite well if not for the processor. Here are my specs:

AMD Athlon 64 3800+ processor (1 core, 2.41 GHz)
3 GB of RAM
NVidia GeForce 210 1GB
Windows XP Home Edition (Service Pack 3)

Well, compared to today's really High end pcs it's quite bad. I know that. But except for the processor it's actually OK. The PC is something like six or seven years old but has been upgraded (RAM and graphics card I updated some months ago).
The problem is I really like playing video games. My favourites are Skyrim and Assassin's Creed (I have Ezio trilogy). Assassin's Creed II runs OK, by that I mean playable. Skyrim doesn't (about 15 fps) and lags alot. My question is if you can improve the gaming performance of a single core processor in anyway. I've seen things like 3d analyzer which use CPU power instead of graphics card. But I have a better graphics card but a weak processor. Is there anything I can do?
By the way, if you want me to upgrade my processor: I think the newest processor fitting with my MoBo (939 Socket) would be an Athlon 64 x2. 1) too old, 2) too expensive today.

Thanks in advance and sorry for any mistakes, since english isn't my mother tongue.

MauveCloud · Nov 9, 2013

I doubt it would really give you enough performance for Skyrim (which is very cpu intensive), but you might be able to overclock. Do you have a good aftermarket cpu cooler for it? If not, do you have a budget for one?

DoYouWantAJellybaby · Nov 9, 2013

I know about Skyrim as I own it. With some tweaks and everything on low I guess it's playable. Anyway, do you think overclocking would make a difference? I have never tried it.

MauveCloud · Nov 9, 2013

I'm guessing you'd get at most a 25% performance increase by overclocking, but since you've implied that you can't afford a full cpu+mobo+ram upgrade, it's probably the only way to squeeze more performance out of your rig. Just be careful, since if the voltage or temperature gets too high, it can ruin your cpu.

Mickey93 · Jan 25, 2014

DoYouWantAJellybaby :

210 is a low end graphics card, 2 indicates the series and 10 the performance, athlon 3800+ is outdated, and you're running on ddr1 memory with socket 939
if i were you i would check craigslist for a 1st gen i7, get an amd hd5850 for $80 and 3x 2gb modules (1st gen i7 has triple channel ram but ddr3 ram is really cheap)

or if you cant do that try to get a 2nd hand athlon x2 4400+ / 4800+ then try to get ur hands on a 5850

overclocking is fun and easy these days but if you dont know alot about fsb/ram/multipliers on the, acceptable voltages for your core/northbridge on an older system like that i would not touch it, the time you spend configuring all that, working instead you should be able to get yourself a used 1st/2nd gen i7

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How to (if you can at all) improve performance on a single core CPU

DoYouWantAJellybaby

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DoYouWantAJellybaby

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Mickey93

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